INDIANAPOLIS — Although reports suggested the New York Giants would not franchise tag running back Saquon Barkley for the second year in a row, Giants general manager Joe Schoen said it’s still something the team could do.
“The franchise tag is not off the table,” Schoen said. “We don’t want to do that in a perfect world, but we’re going to have conversations, we’re going to talk through it. I know he wants a fair deal and I appreciate that.”
Schoen said the Giants will be meeting with Barkley and his agent at the NFL Combine in the hopes of striking a deal. Barkley had a healthy 2023 season and finished with 962 rushing yards, 280 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns after accepting a modified franchise tag last year.
He joins several high-profile running backs who will be free agents when the NFL’s new year begins on March 14. Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans, Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders, and Austin Ekeler of the Los Angeles Chargers are all set to hit the open market.
New York Giants want Saquon Barkley to return, if the price is right
Last offseason Barkley, Jacobs and Ekeler were all vocal about the lack of an adjustment to their compensation as the running back market continues to be devalued in the pass-happy NFL. The statement by Schoen was a surprise as the Giants had reportedly decided against using the tag on Barkley for a second straight year.
“We’re going to have conversations,” Schoen said about meeting with Barkley on a new deal. “We’re gonna talk through it and see what he says. He wants a fair deal and I appreciate that.”
Not only is Barkley one of the top running back’s in the league, but he’s also an important locker room guy in New York. That’s something Schoen said is a factor in contract talks. But, as always, the NFL is also a business and how a player values himself and how the team values Barkley could be different.
“He’s a captain, he’s a leader, he’s a hard worker. I think the world of Saquon and I still think he can play,” Schoen said. “My value for Saquon really hasn’t changed. Saquon may be in a different place now than he was then (2023) in terms of understanding the market.”